A to Z of Therapies
Orthopedics
April 28th, 2007
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with acute, chronic, traumatic, and overuse injuries andother disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopaedic surgeons addressmost musculoskeletal ailments including arthritis, trauma and congenitaldeformities using both surgical and non-surgical means.
What is orthopaedics?
The word orthopaedic, sometimes spelled orthopedic, comesfrom two Greek words:
- Ortho meaning straight
- Paedia meaning children
- Four years of undergraduate education
- Four years medical school
- Five years in an orthopaedic surgery residency program
- One optional year of specialized education
After becoming licensed to practice medicine, theorthopaedic surgeon becomes board certified by passing both oral and writtenexaminations given by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Many orthopaedic surgeons choose to practice generalorthopaedics, while others specialize in certain areas of the body (i.e.,the foot, hand, shoulder, spine, hip, or knee), or in a specializedarea of orthopaedic care (i.e., sports medicine, trauma medicine).Some orthopedic surgeons specialize in trauma medicine and can be found inemergency rooms and trauma centers, treating injuries. Others findtheir work overlapping with plastic surgeons, geriatric specialists,pediatricians, or podiatrists (foot care specialists). A rapidly growingarea of orthopedics is sports medicine, and many sports medicinedoctors are board certified in orthopedic surgery.
Much of the work of an orthopedic surgeon involves addingforeign material to the body in the form of screws, wires, pins,tongs, and prosthetics to hold damaged bones in their proper alignmentor to replace damaged bone or connective tissue. Greatimprovements have been made in the development of artificial limbs and joints,and in the materials available to repair damage to bones andconnective tissue. As developments occur in the fields of metallurgy andplastics, changes will take place in orthopedic surgery that will allowsurgeons to more closely duplicate the natural functions of bones,joints, and ligaments, and to more accurately restore damaged parts totheir original ranges of motion.
Rehabilitation from orthopedic injuries can require longperiods of time. Rehabilitation is usually physically and mentallytaxing. Orthopedic surgeons will work closely with physical therapists toensure that patients receive treatment that will enhance the range ofmotion and return function to all affected body parts.
Click the following website to find a physician.
American Academy ofOrthopaedic Surgeons
www.aaos.org
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